Singapore grabbed a much-needed 2-1 victory away to India, as a Song Ui-young brace was enough for Gavin Lee's side to keep their AFC Asian Cup qualification hopes alive, while Khalid Jamil's side were knocked out at the Fatorda. A dominant first half display and Lallianzuala Chhangte's long-range strike went in vain as Singapore's counter-attacking stung India, with Song scoring just before half-time and the hour mark. With leaders Hong Kong drawing 1-1 at home to Bangladesh earlier, Singapore closed to gap to the top of Group C to two points with a win, while India fell to the bottom of the group, and out of contention with the loss.
With Khalid Jamil outlining his intent to attack right from the off in his pre-match interview with the broadcasters, India began with a high-press that caused Singapore plenty of problems as they attempted to play out from the back. India's pressure told in the fourteenth minute, as Chhangte was afforded acres of space about thirty yards out from the Singaporean goal, and he let fly with his weaker right foot, sending a cannon off a strike past Izwan Mahbud in the Singaporean net into the top corner.
India kept up their intensity and proceeded to cause the visitors plenty of problems as the half wore on. Chhangte, Liston Colaco and Mahesh Singh floated all over the pitch, with India earning plenty of joy down their left wing. Chhangte sent in a couple of crosses that required last-ditch clearances and interceptions, while Liston saw a low drive cleared off the line. A superb set-up from Sunil Chhetri saw Mahesh shoot straight at the keeper when either side would have doubled India's lead, and Chhangte also wasted a gilt-edge chance in the box, spooning the ball over when in plenty of space.
India's profligacy came to haunt them on the stroke of half-time as Singapore found their equalizer. Irfan Najeeb swung in an early cross from the right, and with Ikhsan Fandi occupying plenty of defenders, the ball fell to Glenn Kweh in space on the left side of the box. Keeping his composure, he passed it to Song running into the box and the Singaporean midfielder stroked a low drive past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into the bottom corner to make it 1-1 going into the break.
Jamil's side resumed their dominance after the break, but always looked porous at the back. Gavin Lee spoke of spaces in behind as India pushed forward before the game, and was proved prescient as Singapore took the lead in the 58th minute. Ikhsan did superbly to collect a long ball forward, holding the ball and releasing it to Shawal Anuar on the right side of the box. India's defence was in sixes-and-sevens and Anuar had the time and space to measure a low pass across to Song, also in space on the left side of the box, with the midfielder taking a touch before rifling a rising shot past Gurpreet from a narrow angle. Singapore had the lead and the Fatorda was left stunned.
India poured forward in search of an equalizer, even though a draw would not do them much good, let alone a loss. Khalid Jamil made a host of attacking changes, and despite Brandon Fernandes and Udanta Singh also wasting clear chances late on, India were never really in with a shout.
Singapore left it all on the line with their defence and constantly looked threatening on the break, which proved enough in the end as they held on for a crucial victory, keeping their hopes of AFC Asian Cup qualification alive, while simultaneously ending India's as the final whistle blew in Goa.
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